Suspension panel puts off verdict on planning row chief

31 December 2005 - Western Mail

A £120,000-A-YEAR council chief facing possible suspension over a planning row involving his luxury home has won a 10-day reprieve.

A special panel of Swansea City and County councillors has the power to suspend the local authority's most senior officer - chief executive Tim Thorogood. But yesterday the panel's delegates met and decided to delay its verdict until January 9 to allow Mr Thorogood more time to take any legal advice.

The controversy centres on a garage he and his magistrate wife Alison gained planning permission for at the home, Broad Park, in the picturesque Gower village of Rhossili. At the centre of the row is exactly what use the garage is to be put to.

In a dramatic end to 2005 for the authority, the 45-year-old chief executive, who heads 11,000 staff, was asked to leave his office at County Hall on December 20 by another senior officer. The move was necessary because the authority had set in motion an inquiry into what it called a planning issue regarding Mr Thorogood's home. Under local government procedure the chief executive could not remain in charge of the council investigating a planning application he made.

The Thorogoods were granted planning permission to build a barn-style garage on their property overlooking Rhossili Bay last January. But they were then asked to apply for retrospective amended planning permission following concerns about the number of windows included in the building.

Then, last October, the council's planning department decided the couple should apply for fresh retrospective approval for the garage - which was granted.

An investigation began following complaints from Rhossili Community Council, neighbours in Rhossili and the Gower Society, which keeps a keen eye on developments throughout the holiday peninsula.

A council spokesman said yesterday, "The council's General Purposes Panel met today to discuss an issue regarding a planning matter at the chief executive Tim Thorogood's home.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives.

"No decisions were taken at the meeting and the panel is due to reconvene on January 9.

"The chief executive was not present at the meeting, with the agreement of his representative.

"It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

Mr Thorogood is a member of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace) which will represent him at the January 9 hearing.

A senior member of the Liberal Democrat-led coalition running the council said yesterday it was felt reasonable the chief executive should have more time to take advice on the matter.

The councillor, who asked to remain unnamed, said, "As this has blown up at the Christmas and New Year holiday period it has obviously not been the best time to obtain legal and union advice."

If Mr Thorogood is suspended over the issue, an independent investigator will be appointed to look into the whole history of the planning application.

Mr Thorogood has not commented on the matter.

The General Purposes Panel which met yesterday looks into disciplinary and other matters.

HOLD-UP IN COUNCIL BOSS CASE

31 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council's top boss will have to wait until the new year to find out if he is to be suspended. Tim Thorogood, the council's chief executive, was expected to hear yesterday if he would be suspended from his £120,000-a-year job over a planning row at his luxury Rhossili home.

Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, who works as a corporate complaints officer for Neath Port Talbot Council and is a Swansea magistrate, were granted permission for a new garage in January.

However, a number of formal complaints about the size and alleged use of the building mean the council is set to investigate if any rules have been broken.

Mr Thorogood had been expected to be formally suspended by the council's General Purposes Panel, but his legal team wanted more time to prepare, and was allowed a 10-day adjournment.

A council spokesman said: "The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives. No decisions were taken at the meeting and the panel is due to reconvene on January 9.

"The chief executive was not present at the meeting, with the agreement of his representative.

"It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

There are special rules in place for chief executives at all councils to prevent them falling foul of malicious accusations.

Labour Group leader David Phillips said that the council was right to follow procedure.

He said: "If they have to go down this route, then the proper procedure needs to be followed.

"As I understand it his representatives wanted more time to prepare."

Mr Thorogood had been due to sign-off a £170 million deal that will see Swansea Council's IT systems being run by private company Capgemini yesterday.

At a hastily arranged cabinet meeting Mr Thorogood's deputy, Bob Carter, was handed emergency powers to conclude the deal instead.

It means that 66 council IT staff will transfer to Capgemini in the New Year.

Council leader Chris Holley said: "The decision to defer to January 9 was to give the chief executive's legal team time to consider all aspects of the situation.

"It is only right and proper that he is given this opportunity."

SUSPENSION IS LIKELY FOR COUNCIL'S TOP BOSS

30 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council's top boss was today expected to be suspended over a planning row. A decision on chief executive Tim Thorogood's future was due to be taken by three councillors sitting on the authority's general purpose panel.

They are expected to suspend the council's top officer while an investigation is carried out into a planning row over his luxury Gower home.

The row centres on a planning application Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, who works as a corporate complaints officer for Neath Port Talbot Council and is a Swansea magistrate, made for their home in Rhossili.

They were granted permission to build a garage on the property in January, but were asked when the work was completed to apply for retrospective amended permission after planners raised concerns about the number of windows included.

In October, planning officers decided Mr Thorogood and his wife would have to apply for fresh retrospective approval for the garage as it varied significantly from the original permission.

Approval was given but complaints were made by neighbours claiming that the garage now boasted a kitchen, sleeping facilities and en-suite bathroom.

That led to Mr Thorogood being asked to leave County Hall last week while wheels were put in motion to set up today's meeting where he is expected to be suspended while an independent investigation is carried out.

A hastily convened special cabinet meeting was also pencilled in for this afternoon.

It is expected to give deputy chief executive Bob Carter permission to sign the deal with IT firm Capgemini - the council's preferred partner for delivering the £170 million eGovernment programme aimed at updating council systems, improving efficiency and creating one stop shops for council queries.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "A meeting of the general purposes panel of the council will be taking place today to discuss an issue regarding a planning matter at the chief executive Tim Thorogood's home.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives. It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

Council chief faces being suspended in planning row

29 December 2005 - Western Mail

THE chief executive of one Wales' biggest local authorities could be facing suspension at a special meeting tomorrow.

Tim Thorogood, who is paid £120,000 a year at Swansea City and County Council, has been called before a hastily-convened panel of councillors.

It will examine complaints about the development of a barn-style garage at the chief executive's luxury home on Gower.

In a dramatic ending to the year for the council, Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his office at County Hall last week by another senior officer.

It was a routine procedure as the chief executive could not remain in charge of the authority investigating the planning application which he submitted.

The application was made jointly with his wife Alison.

The complaints, from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and some Rhossili residents, centre on exactly what use the garage is to be put to.

From the outside a number of windows can be seen on the garage, at the rear of Mr Thorogood's house, Broad Park, which overlooks Rhossili Bay.

A senior member of the council said yesterday the general purposes panel has the power, if it was found necessary, to suspend the chief executive. An independent investigator would then be appointed to look into the planning row.

Mr Thorogood, whose hobbies including sailing and horse riding, joined the authority three years ago from Haringey Council in London where he was director of support services. His wife Alison now works for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as a complaints officer and is a Swansea magistrate.

Mr Thorogood announced on joining the authority that it was his intention to make Swansea City and County Council one of the top performing local authorities in Britain. He has overseen the first phase of a plan to computerise public links with the authority, a move which led to a two-month strike by council IT workers.

The workers were concerned about their jobs being "outsourced" to the private sector and there were worries it might lead to other departments being outsourced to private companies.

But after certain assurances were given, a multi-million pound deal with private IT firm Capgemini is close to being signed.

Council IT workers will transfer to Capgemini under the deal, which could be signed at a cabinet meeting tomorrow after the general purposes panel has met.

The planning saga over the Thorogoods' garage began on December 14 last year when a site visit was made by councillors. Then the events unfolded as follows:

January 11, 2005 - planning permission is granted with conditions;

September - as a result of additional work to the garage, planners ask for a fresh application;
Letters are sent between Mr Thorogood and the planning department to clarify the issues.

October 18 - a fresh application goes to committee.

Rhossili Community Council and the Gower Society raise concerns but the committee resolves to approve the new application.

December - a complaint is lodged with the council by Rhossili Community Council, the Gower Society and neighbours.

December 20 - Mr Thorogood agrees to leave County Hall while the issue is looked at.

EMERGENCY ACTION TO SEAL HUGE E-DEAL

28 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council will take emergency action to ensure its multi-million pound eGovernment contract goes ahead. A special cabinet meeting will be held on Friday to give deputy chief executive David Daycock the power to sign the massive deal with IT firm Capgemini.

Chief executive Tim Thorogood was due to sign the agreement, but is involved in a planning row over the development of a garage at his luxury Gower home.

He could be suspended by a panel of councillors on Friday, while formal complaints about the construction of the garage are looked at by an independent investigator. That could have left the deal with Capgemini in jeopardy.

The company is the council's partner for its eGovernment programme, which is intended to modernise the authority's computer systems and working practices. It aims to cut down on duplication, improve efficiency and create one stop shops for council queries.

The council's IT staff are due to be transferred over to Capgemini in the new year, increasing the urgency for a deal to be signed.

The pressure has been increased since last week's allegations against the chief executive, which reportedly saw him leave County Hall.

t followed complaints about a garage he had permission to build in January this year.

Council planners asked him to submit a retrospective application in September after questions were raised about the number of windows in the garage.

It has now been claimed the garage is equipped with a kitchen, sleeping facilities and en suite bathrooms, none of which were part of his planning permission.

An investigation into the claims is now expected to be conducted and could see Mr Thorogood suspended and Mr Daycock take the reins of the council in his place

BREAKING HIS OWN RULES?

28 December 2005 - Evening Post

I Read with amazement your recent story regarding the city council chief executive's new garage (Post, December 21). It would appear that he is totally ignorant of his own authority's planning regulations. He has proceeded to build not a garage but an extension which one would normally describe as a granny flat.

It will be interesting to observe what action our illustrious council will take over this matter.Should it be found that he has deliberately flaunted planning regulations he should resign immediately or be removed from office.

Trevor Lewis, Pen y Fro, Dunvant, Swansea

SILENCE OVER QUESTIONS ON COUNCIL CHIEF'S NEW GARAGE

22 December 2005 - Evening Post

This is the home that has plunged Swansea Council's top boss into a planning row.

Chief executive Tim Thorogood refused to answer questions yesterday about the row which reportedly saw him leave County Hall on Tuesday morning and not return. It centred on a garage built at his Rhossili home that is the subject of formal complaints.

A panel of councillors will decide a week tomorrow whether to suspend Mr Thorogood, who is thought to be paid around £120,000 for being in charge of Swansea Council, while the accusations are investigated.

He was originally given permission for the garage development in January 2005, but was forced to put in a new, retrospective application after questions were raised about the finished project and the number of windows it included.

Mr Thorogood was granted permission, but it is understood claims have been made that the garage now includes sleeping and kitchen facilities and an en suite bathroom.

According to a number of reports, the claims led to Mr Thorogood leaving County Hall while a panel looked at the issues surrounding the application made by himself and his wife Alison.

Mrs Thorogood, who is a magistrate, works with Neath Port Talbot Council as a complaints officer, but that authority said it was not involved in the Swansea Council investigation.

Martin Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council head of revenues and customer services, said: "The question of alleged planning irregularities is purely a matter for the relevant planning authority, in this instance, Swansea Council."

Swansea Council has so far remained tight-lipped about the issue and refused to answer questions on details of the row.

It has also failed to comment on what impact this might have on the multi-million pound contract for Capgemini to deliver the council's eGovernment pro gramme and Service@ Swansea services project.

This scheme is aimed at modernising council systems and working practices, increasing efficiency and creating one-stop call centres for council queries.

The deal was expected to be signed this week. Mr Thorogood was given permission to sign the deal by cabinet earlier this month. It is understood another officer could take Mr Thorogood's place, but this has not been confirmed by Swansea Council.

All a council spokesman would say was that there was an issue regarding planning at Mr Thorogood's home and that the chief executive was being dealt with accordingly.

He said: "It is inappropriate to comment further at this time."

COUNCIL CHIEF IN HOUSE ROW

21 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council's £120,000-a-year boss is at the centre of a planning row over his luxury Gower home, it emerged today.

The authority's chief executive Tim Thorogood, who is in charge of every aspect of day-to-day council activities, is under the spotlight after questions were raised over a garage he built on his property, the Post can reveal. Formal complaints are believed to have been made against Mr Thorogood who is in charge of more than 10,000 staff.They centre on a new garage and workshop that was built at his home at Broad Park in Rhossili.

It is understood Mr Thorogood left County Hall yesterday morning and did not return. A committee of councillors is understood to be meeting next Thursday to discuss the issue and see what action, if any, needs to be taken.

Only a few weeks ago council staff passed a vote of no confidence in him at a trade union meeting in the continuing row over the multi-million pound Service@Swansea scheme aimed at delivering a more efficient service to the public. There has also been disquiet expressed over changes in pension rights which he has been overseeing. A Swansea Council spokesman said Mr Thorogood was being dealt with in accordance with the council's procedures. He confirmed that these procedures were linked to a planning application at Mr Thorogood's home.

He applied for, and got permission for, a new garage in December 2004.In September Mr Thorogood was asked to make a fresh application because of concerns about the final appearance of the garage which had extra windows.

The city's planning committee approved the scheme but now it is understood allegations have been made that the garage features a kitchen, sleeping accommodation and en suite bathroom facilities.

Both Rhossili Community Council and the Gower Society have raised concerns about the planning application.

Malcolm Ridge, chairman of the Gower Society, said today: "It is a large garage with more windows than you would normally associate with a garage. It seems to have gone through planning very quickly."

Mr Ridge said he had heard claims that the garage was now equipped with various facilities besides being a garage.

He said: "That is what we feared - that it was going to be an annex for visitors or whatever."

r Thorogood was unavailable for comment today. But in a statement approved by him a spokesman for Swansea Council said: "There is an issue regarding a planning application at the home of chief executive Tim Thorogood.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures clearly set out for chief executives. It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter."

Council chief in planning probe

20 Decmber 2005 - BBC Wales Website

Swansea Council is looking into a planning application made by its chief executive in respect of his Gower home.

The authority said "there is an issue" surrounding an application made by Tim Thorogood for his house in Rhossili.

Council records indicate Mr Thorogood had applied for planning permission to build a detached garage and workshop at the property.

The council said he had not been suspended but was subject to a "formal processQ" in respect of the matter.

According to information on the council's own website in September 2004 Mr Thorogood applied and was subsequently granted permission for the garage and workshop.

In September of this year he applied and was granted permission for minor amendments to the plan.

In a statement the authority said: "There is an issue regarding a planning application at chief executive Tim Thorogood's home.

"There is a formal process to follow in respect of this matter.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives.

"It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter."